The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is welcoming three new family medicine resident doctors to its team.
Drs. Elyse Epp, Benjamin Lau and Matthew VanTil, residents from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University, all began their post-graduate training at CKHA in early July. The three will live in Chatham-Kent and train with local physicians while they complete the hands-on portion of their medical training.
"Our medical residency program offers the opportunity to learn and practice medicine in a rural environment with a variety of learning opportunities in both inpatient and outpatient medicine," said Dr. Pervez Faruqi, chief of staff at CKHA.
The residency will feel right at home for Dr. VanTil, who is originally from Blenheim. Dr. VanTil said he's looking forward to learning from Chatham-Kent's dedicated physicians.
"After training in centres throughout Canada, I found that CKHA had exactly what I was looking for in a residency program," he said. "There is not only the breadth of practice that I was looking for but most importantly the physicians here are excellent teachers and ideal role models."
Dr. Epp, who grew up in Leamington and Dr. Lau, originally from Toronto, both said they are excited for the community feel Chatham-Kent will bring.
"Entering into medical school I always had the intention of returning to Southwestern Ontario to practice Family Medicine," said Epp. "Attending medical school in Toronto provided me a great education but I truly missed being part of a small community and am so fortunate to be near my close-knit friends and family again."